Rashawn & Beyond: Anti-Violence News for Queer People of Color

The Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund aims to establish a sustainable tribute to Rashawn that promotes critical thought about the impact of violence and intolerance, particularly upon queer communities of African descent.

Through this blog, we provide action alerts, event postings and breaking news as a means of informing these communities in ways that enable them to combat racism and homophobia.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Press Conference & Picket Line

White cops beat two Black men on November 1st in the West VillageJoin activists from across the city for Anti-Police Brutality

Drop all the Charges against Shakur Trammel & his co-defendants FIREOFFICER TOCCOS! Release the names of all the officers involved in theattack on November 1st End the NYPD campaign of Racial and GenderProfiling Stop the attacks on youth, people of color, the homelessand lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in the West Village.

What Happened at Hudson and Christopher – Halloween Night 2006According to eyewitnesses, on November 1st, at around 4:30am, at theintersection of Hudson and Christopher, various African-American andLatina/o people were approached by a van of police officers and toldto move from the corner. Some of these people were patrons of apizza restaurant who were standing out in front, while others weresimply crossing the intersection.

As people began to move away from the corner, a 20-year old African-American female remarked on how disrespectful the tone had been ofthe female officer who had given the order. The same officer got outof the van and began to initiate an argument with the 20-year-oldwoman. Within seconds, Officer Toccos, a white male cop, also jumpedout of the van and began to shout at the 20-year-old female.

Then without warning or provocation, Officer Toccos pushed the 20-year-old African-American woman twice in her breasts forcing herbackwards. A witness at the scene, 23 year old African-Americancollege student Shakur Trammel requested the badge number of OfficerToccos.

In answer to that request, Shakur Trammel was punched in his face. Ina fit of rage, Toccos began punching Trammel repeatedly in his chest.He soon threw him on top of the front of the police van and beganchoking him with his nightstick. A rampage ensued. Witnesses report,that between 4 to 6 cops, mostly white officers, began kicking andpunching, Shakur Trammel as he lay on the ground. Throughout theattack, Officer Toccos continuously beat Trammel with his nightstick.Covered with bruises and his left elbow dislocated Shakur Trammel wasthen thrown into a police van.

During the attack, Trammel could hear the voices of several peopleyelling for the police to stop and calling on each other to takepictures to document the assault. As many as 20 people, the vastmajority of which were people of color, witnessed the attack. Eyewitnesses report that the police went into the crowd and beganbeating another African–American man, believed to be in his 30's, whowas very vocal about his outrage at the police brutality wieldedagainst Trammel. Both men were arrested along with an African–American female who refused to follow the police command for thewitnesses to disperse.

Once they arrived at the 6th Precinct, Shakur Trammel told hisarresting officer that he was a Transsexual male and wanted to beplaced in a separate cell. This request was ignored. Both of themen, in desperate need of medical attention, were initially placed inthe same holding cell. Already in the cell were two other men, oneBlack and one Latino, both injured and bleeding, who reported thatthe police at the 6th Precinct also assaulted them. After an hour ofdemanding to be taken to a hospital, one of the four men of color wasthen taken from the cell by cops armed with a stun gun.

On November 1st 2006, at the corner of Hudson and Christopher, 2Black men were beaten, one trans and one non-trans, and arrestedalong with one Black woman, for refusing to stand idly by as a 20-year old Black woman was assaulted by a white cop. Racist policeattacks like the one on November 1st are a daily occurrence inworking class and communities of color throughout NYC. In the WestVillage, the 6th Precinct has become notorious for racist, sexist andanti-lesbian, gay, bi and trans violence unleashed particularlyagainst young people of color, the homeless and transgender people.The people of color LGBT youth organization, FIERCE!, has been at theforefront of fighting on these issues in the West Village for severalyears.

TransJustice of The Audre Lorde Project calls on social justiceactivists and organizations from across the city to Endorse and Cometo an Anti-Police Brutality Press Conference & Picket Line Wednesday,Nov 29th 6:30pm – 7:30pm in front of the 6th Precinct (233 West 10thStreet)

TransJustice is a political group created by and for Trans and GenderNon-Conforming people of color. We work to mobilize our communitiesand allies to action on the pressing political issues we face. Theseissues include gaining access to jobs, housing, and education; theneed for Trans-sensitive healthcare, HIV-related services, and job-training programs; resisting police, government and anti-immigrantviolence.

To endorse or for more info call 718 596-0342 ext 15 or emailikhenry@alp.org

Monday, November 27, 2006

Forum targets anti-gay crime in ATL

Following several recent episodes of alleged anti-gay violence in the city, the Atlanta Police Department and In the Life Atlanta are hosting a community forum on Nov. 29 to increase awareness about hate crimes and general safety for gay and lesbian residents.

In the Life Atlanta representatives met with Officer Darlene Harris, the APD’s gay liaison, after two black gay men were beaten on Oct. 22 outside the GE Tower, which is located in a predominately black neighborhood just south of downtown Atlanta.

“With GE Towers essentially located within the African-American community, we felt the need to do something,” said Kenneth Jones, board president of In the Life Atlanta, a black gay group. “I think on a large scale, a lot of people do feel safe here in Atlanta, but that’s because a lot of these things aren’t reported.”

The forum will not focus exclusively on black gay men and lesbians, but instead aims to help all gay Atlantans stay safe, as well as educate them about how to recognize hate crimes and report them to Atlanta police. Jones credited Harris with taking the lead on organizing the forum, which includes a panel featuring Harris, along with representatives from the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, two national gay rights groups.

James Carter and R’heem Turner reported that they were beaten outside the GE Tower during the early hours of Oct. 22. About five or six young men attacked Carter and Turner, and allegedly yelled out anti-gay slurs during the incident.

The Atlanta Police Department has not made any arrests in the incident, but continues to hope someone will come forward with information about the suspects, Harris said.

The GE Tower incident occurred during the same weekend as another anti-gay incident at The Heights at Cheshire Bridge apartment complex, where a gay man said he was pushed to the ground and called a faggot by a man with whom he had a parking dispute.

Rashawn & Beyond: Anti-Violence News for Queer People of Color

The Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund aims to establish a sustainable tribute to Rashawn that promotes critical thought about the impact of violence and intolerance, particularly upon queer communities of African descent.

Through this blog, we provide action alerts, event postings and breaking news as a means of informing these communities in ways that enable them to combat racism and homophobia.